Pedometer (Step Counter)

A pedometer counts steps via a motion sensor. It is the simplest activity wearable — a standalone clip/wrist unit, a feature in any fitness-tracker, or built into every smartphone. Steps are a proxy for daily walking and non-exercise activity (NEAT) and are easy to understand and act on (see steps, walking).

Behavioral value. The biggest benefit isn't precision — it's that a visible step count and a daily goal increase activity: people who track steps tend to walk more (a well-supported behavior-change effect; see stages-of-change). The popular "10,000 steps" target is a useful round goal but originated as a 1960s marketing figure, not a clinical threshold — meaningful health benefits accrue well below it, and the right target is individual.

Accuracy: modern accelerometer step counts are reasonably accurate at normal walking pace; they can miscount during very slow walking, pushing a cart/stroller, or arm-still activity, and some over- or under-count on stairs or cycling.

Pros: cheap (or free on a phone), dead-simple, strong motivational/adherence tool. Cons: counts only steps (no intensity/HR), modest accuracy edge cases, can encourage step-fixation.

• Counts steps via motion sensor; standalone, in trackers, or in every phone.
• A proxy for daily walking/NEAT; goals reliably increase activity (behavior change).
• "10,000 steps" is a marketing-origin round goal, not a clinical cutoff; benefits accrue below it.
• Decent accuracy at normal pace; errs at very slow/arm-still movement.

• steps — the metric and how it's used.
• fitness-tracker — richer device that includes step counting.
• walking — steps reflect walking volume.
• stages-of-change — step goals as a behavior-change lever.